U.S. Attorney weighs in on compassion center compromise

Medical marijuana advocates let up a big cheer last week when Governor Lincoln Chafee and General Assembly leaders patched together a piece of legislation to allow the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries to open.

But underneath the joy was a nagging feeling- how would the U.S. Attorney respond? It was after all, a letter from U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha that caused Chafee to halt the compassion center program in the first place. Would he challenge this compromise as well?

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha today issued the following statement:

The policies and position of the Department of Justice on enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in jurisdictions that have under consideration, or have implemented, legislation that would sanction and regulate the commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana purportedly for medical use, have not changed.

Therefore, we have not nor do we intend to review or discuss legislation on this topic which, according to media reports, was recently submitted for consideration by the Rhode Island Legislature. To be clear, at no time has there been any contact or communication between any state official and this Office concerning any such legislation.

I guess in his position I really didn’t want to hear what he needed or had to say. His hands are tied so we need to be strong and give this a whirl!!! I don’t know how he can say much more – but I think we need to move on anyway.